The primary objective of detecting hearing loss in children as early as possible is that appropriate intervention(s) can be initiated in a timely fashion. Therefore, infants and young children referred from hearing screening programs must be followed up immediately and receive a comprehensive audiologic evaluation to confirm the presence of hearing loss and establish the magnitude, type, configuration, and symmetry of the hearing loss. Improved assessment procedures for infants and young children have meant greater precision in quantifying hearing losses at an early age, in turn facilitating achievement of this objective.

Two approaches are available in diagnostic audiology to accurately and reliably assess hearing: (1) physiologic and (2) behavioral. For newborns and young infants (≤6 months), a physiologic measure is the approach of choice. Even normal, healthy babies do not provide reliable behavioral responses to sound before 6 months of age. Older infants and children, however, can be tested efficiently and effectively with both behavioral and physiologic measures.